Is Messenger Safe?

Breaking Down the TikTok Rumours?

We’re going to bet that even as you’re reading this article, you have Meta’s messenger app open on your phone.?

After all, it’s in the top three most used chat platforms in the world.?

Sure, it is convenient, but it also presents significant security and privacy risks that users—especially professionals—should take seriously. From data breaches and phishing scams to location tracking and data sharing with Facebook, Messenger has faced a lot scrutiny for the way it handles user information. ?

However, recently there’s been a surge of rumours and finger-pointing. Today, we are going to discuss if there’s any truth behind them. ?

Does Messenger Steal Passwords and Track Everything You Do??

Multiple videos circulate on platforms such as TikTok, claiming Messenger is stealing passwords. People also say that the app can “see” everything you do on your phone and track every action of devices?connected to the same?Wi-Fi network. ?

While this sounds alarming, the truth is more technical than sinister. ?

Messenger does not have an Internet of Things (IoT) feature that lets it spy on everything happening on your network. Instead, it uses a standard process called Network Discovery through Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), and other basic networking protocols. ?

All phones have a feature, called "Location Nearby Devices". You can stop it at any time, as most users do, due to security concerns. It uses ARP and coarse location data to determine where your device is in relation to others.?

Network devices, including routers, rely on ICMP Packets. These are used to test network connections and are essential for determining if a device is reachable on a network.?

ARP links IP addresses with MAC (Media Access Control) addresses. It allows devices to package and send data properly over a local network.?

These network protocols are fundamental to how all devices communicate on a network.?

Now:?

Most of your sensitive online and device activity is secured using strong encryption protocols that are practically impossible to decrypt. Even if Messenger were to intercept traffic, it wouldn’t be able to read protected content without the encryption keys.?It really is not the?advanced spying tool people are making it out to be. ?

In addition, without root access (which is typically unavailable on modern smartphones), apps cannot passively monitor network traffic or capture sensitive data from other software. Unlike on a compromised computer, Messenger cannot simply “watch” what other apps are doing.?

The same goes for browsers. Just like any mobile OS, they enforce sandboxing, preventing Messenger from seeing what’s happening outside of its own environment.?

To conclude:?

Messenger does collect metadata (who you talk to, when, and from where). However, it does not have unrestricted access to passwords, financial data, or private messages from other apps. ?

The real concern here is how much trust users place in Meta to handle their data responsibly and how uneducated most of them are about cyber threats. Things like ransomware and phishing are far bigger issues to concern yourselves with.?

At Expert Allies we prioritize security in everything we do.

So, we'd like to ask:?

Which apps do you trust with your private and professional conversations? ?

Let’s discuss in the comments.?